Draft policy would limit teachers, students 'friending' on social media

The Vancouver School Board is considering a draft social media policy that would ban teachers from requesting or accepting students as "friends" on social media sites for non-educational purposes.

Board chair Patti Bacchus says there is still a lot to work out, but as employers the board has an obligation to be clear on the matter.

"Because it is a new and greyish area," she said.

"If people have a Facebook account, they have considered that personal. They become an employee of the district, they are now in some ways a representative — they have a professional role that they may not have thought about what’s out there in their social media account and what that may look like."

Bacchus says the board will wait for feedback from parents, teachers and students before developing a set policy.

She says it may not be in place before the 2013-14 school year starts in the fall.